Proposed law: free contraceptives for women?

MYRTLE BEACH (WMBF) - A proposed national health care law could soon mean free birth control for women in the U.S.

A panel of experts advising the government will meet in late November to consider what kind of preventive care for women should be covered at no cost to the patient under President Obama's health care overhaul.

Some folks say this topic of free contraceptives for women shouldn't even be on the table for discussion, others are welcoming it.

The birth control pill still raises debate fifty years since its conception.

And now the discussion of free contraceptives becoming apart of president Obama's health care reform is a tough pill for some to swallow.

"I'm against it on two levels. As a tax payer because I don't want to my tax dollars to provide for abortions and I don't want my tax dollars to provide for contraceptives for anyone else. And I'm also against it spiritually, because it sends the wrong message to our teenagers and to our kids in America," says Pastor Bruce Crawford of First Baptist in Myrtle Beach.

But not everyone is flying the anti-contraceptives flag.

"I think it's such a good idea. I think that people would need that. It's not something that should just be ignored," says Myrtle Beach Resident, Monica, who's in favor of the proposed law.

With roughly half of all pregnancies unplanned, health officials say many occur even while on some form of contraception.

The government says the problem is rarely the birth control method, but women not using it properly or forgetting all together.

Advocates say free birth control would begin to address the problem, but some aren't convinced this is a full proof plan.

"If they truly need it and I don't know how you can divide that line, but yes I have a problem with anybody being able to walk in off the street and get birth control for free when some of them truly can afford it and I'm struggling to pay my bills," says Kathy, who's mixed on the proposed law.

And many Americans feel just like Kathy on this issue and the health care reform in general. Not opposed to helping those who legitimately need a helping hand, but doing so without enabling them.'

The first meeting won't be held until November 16th where a panel will then make recommendations to the Department of Human and Health Services.

From there, they have until next August to make its decision.

So you can probably expect some more changes to this and other initiatives before the timer buzzes on this issue.